Financial Times

The cost of insuring ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz has increased 12-fold, reaching 3% of the vessel's value. US President Donald Trump has pledged support for trade through the key oil route.

The Pentagon and the government of a Persian Gulf country are discussing the purchase of Ukrainian interceptor drones to combat Iranian drones. This would allow them to replace expensive Patriot missiles and preserve their stocks for other purposes.

Ukraine is under pressure from the EU to allow inspection of the damaged Druzhba pipeline, which supplies Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia. Kyiv claims significant damage from a Russian airstrike, but Hungary and Slovakia accuse Ukraine of deliberately blocking it.

US military officials warn that a conflict in Iran could cause a shortage of air defense system missiles. This would have consequences not only for Ukraine, but also for Washington's combat plans for potential conflicts with China or Russia.

The U. S. Department of Defense is in talks with tech giants to create AI systems to identify vulnerabilities in China's power grids. This would allow the American military to paralyze the adversary's systems in the event of a conflict.

The US has imposed a temporary global tariff of 10% for 150 days after the Supreme Court overturned previous tariff restrictions. President Trump plans to raise the rate to 15% later, but the timing is not specified.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stated that Russia has made mobilization toxic and instructed the Ministry of Defense to seek technological approaches.

The Ukrainian leader emphasized: Russia is paying too high a price for the war, Ukraine is approaching its end, but still needs guarantees from the US and the European community. In particular, this refers to EU membership.

Tehran and Moscow have signed a confidential contract for 500 million euros for the supply of 500 Verba MANPADS and 2500 9M336 missiles. The agreement also provides for the transfer of 500 Mowgli-2 night vision devices for tracking low-flying targets.

Meta has cut annual stock option payouts by approximately 5% for most of its employees. This comes amid investments in artificial intelligence and the construction of data centers.

The European Commission has reduced its public criticism of the Orban government to avoid accusations of interference and to not fuel his anti-Brussels campaign. Brussels fears that strong statements could be used by Orban as proof of pressure from the EU.

The FSB and GRU are recruiting ex-Wagner recruiters to create a network of "disposable agents" in EU countries. They organize sabotage and reconnaissance of NATO facilities, particularly on "shadow fleet" vessels.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that continuous Russian air strikes on the capital's critical infrastructure over two months have brought the city to the brink of disaster. 3.5 million residents are enduring the harshest winter since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Russian authorities effectively blocked the WhatsApp messenger on February 11, making it inaccessible without complex workarounds. The application has also been removed from Roskomnadzor's online catalog.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy hears for the first time about the intentions to announce elections on February 24. He stated that the elections will take place after the ceasefire, and the US does not link them to security guarantees.

President Zelenskyy's announcement of election and referendum plans on February 24 is unrealistic, as it is impossible without a peace agreement with Russia. Ukraine needs security guarantees and a ceasefire to hold elections.

President Zelenskyy plans to announce a plan for presidential elections and a referendum on February 24. This is due to the Trump administration's insistence on holding votes by May 15.

Chinese J-16 fighter jets performed dangerous maneuvers near Taiwanese F-16 aircraft during military exercises in December. One J-16 fired decoy flares, another flew in a firing-ready position.

Britain's top intelligence agencies have briefed political parties, warning of the dangers of foreign interference, from financial donations to coercion. This move comes amid concerns about the vulnerability of British democracy.

Security experts in Europe say two Russian spacecraft, Luch-1 and Luch-2, have intercepted messages from at least a dozen key satellites over the continent. This jeopardizes confidential information and could allow manipulation of trajectories or even lead to accidents involving European satellites.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced three levels of security guarantees for Ukraine after the war, so that a new Russian attack would be a "very bad decision. " This includes strengthening the Ukrainian army, a coalition of the willing, and US involvement.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday morning. He will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Ukraine has agreed on a multi-level plan to ensure a ceasefire with Russia, which provides for a response within 24 hours to violations. In the event of continued hostilities, a coalition of the willing will be engaged, and in the event of a large-scale attack, a coordinated military response with US support.

Europeans are concerned about their own security due to Donald Trump's policies, which sparks discussions about NATO's future and the US role. Experts believe that NATO will survive, but the US role may diminish, and Ukraine will not join the Alliance in the next three years.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney urged the US to respect the country's sovereignty after American diplomats met with the "Alberta Prosperity Project" group, which advocates for the region's secession. The separatists are asking the US for a $500 billion line of credit to support the province's independence.

The idea of an energy truce between Ukraine and Russia was discussed in Abu Dhabi. Kyiv will support a cessation of strikes if Moscow does not attack Ukrainian facilities.

Last year, Russia's energy revenues decreased by 20% compared to 2024. This was due to increasing discounts on Russian oil and low global prices, which intensified pressure on the country's economy.

Ukraine could become significantly less dependent on American intelligence as Europe is ready to provide information. This would reduce the criticality of a halt in American aid.

The US has informed Ukraine that security guarantees are contingent on signing a peace agreement with Russia. Negotiations in Abu Dhabi are ongoing, but Kyiv doubts Washington's commitments.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei urges humanity to recognize the potential threats of powerful AI systems that could emerge in the coming years. He outlined risks ranging from job displacement to bioterrorism.